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The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Since Diners Club issued its first charge cards in 1950, payment cards—credit, debit, and charge cards—have revolutionized how and whenwe pay for goods and services. In Paying with Plastic, David Evans and Richard Schmalensee provide a nontechnical distillation of their years of research on the economic, technological, and institutional forces that have shaped the payment card industry. They show how competition works in an industry that does not neatly fit any of the standard economic models. They describe how the payment card companies such as MasterCard and Visa have developed complex systems for coordinating transactions among their thousands of bank members and millions of cardholders and accepting merchants. Evans and Schmalensee also describe recent developments in the industry and consider its likely evolution.
In the United States, we now take our ability to pay with plastic for granted. In other parts of the world, however, the establishment of a "credit-card economy" has not been easy. In countries without a history of economic stability, how can banks decide who should be given a credit card? How do markets convince people to use cards, make their transactions visible to authorities, assume the potential risk of fraud, and pay to use their own money? Why should merchants agree to pay extra if customers use cards instead of cash? In Plastic Money, Akos Rona-Tas and Alya Guseva tell the story of how banks overcame these and other quandaries as they constructed markets for credit cards in eight postcommunist countries. We know how markets work once they are built, but this book develops a unique framework for understanding how markets are engineered from the ground up—by selecting key players, ensuring cooperation, and providing conditions for the valuation of a product. Drawing on extensive interviews and fieldwork, the authors chronicle how banks overcame these hurdles and generated a desire for their new product in the midst of a transition from communism to capitalism.
FROM THE FOREWORD Dr. Gruenwald has indicated the desirable properties of polymerics for differing applications; thus, his text is especially useful for polymer chemists who must "tailor" plastic materials for specific groups of applications. Engineers in extruding and calendering film and sheet will benefit from the intimate relationships elucidated between processing parameters imposed upon stocks employed in thermoforming and the products thereof. Mold designers are provided with a complete guide that will enable them to avoid the less obvious pitfalls and wasted effort so often experienced in the evolution of molds for (especially) complex parts.. Quite likely, Dr. Gruenwald's suggestions willl lead to considerable benefits to those who read and practice by this remarkable exposition of thermoforming technology. Robert K. Jordan Director-Metalliding Institute, Director-Engineering Research Institute, Scientist in Residence, Gannon University
“Guides readers toward the road less consumptive, offering practical advice and moral support while making a convincing case that individual actions . . . do matter.” —Elizabeth Royte, author, Garbage Land and Bottlemania Like many people, Beth Terry didn’t think an individual could have much impact on the environment. But while laid up after surgery, she read an article about the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans, and decided then and there to kick her plastic habit. In Plastic-Free, she shows you how you can too, providing personal anecdotes, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and individual solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint. Presenting both beginner and advanced steps, Terry includes handy checklists and tables for easy reference, ways to get involved in larger community actions, and profiles of individuals—Plastic-Free Heroes—who have gone beyond personal solutions to create change on a larger scale. Fully updated for the paperback edition, Plastic-Free also includes sections on letting go of eco-guilt, strategies for coping with overwhelming problems, and ways to relate to other people who aren’t as far along on the plastic-free path. Both a practical guide and the story of a personal journey from helplessness to empowerment, Plastic-Free is a must-read for those concerned about the ongoing health and happiness of themselves, their children, and the planet.
Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications, Second Edition, covers both the polymer basics that are helpful to bring readers quickly up-to-speed if they are not familiar with a particular area of plastics processing and the recent developments that enable practitioners to discover which options best fit their requirements. New chapters added specifically cover polyamides, polyimides, and polyesters. Hot topics such as 3-D printing and smart plastics are also included, giving plastics engineers the information they need to take these embryonic technologies and deploy them in their own work. With the increasing demands for lightness and fuel economy in the automotive industry (not least due to CAFÉ standards), plastics will soon be used even further in vehicles. A new chapter has been added to cover the technology trends in this area, and the book has been substantially updated to reflect advancements in technology, regulations, and the commercialization of plastics in various areas. Recycling of plastics has been thoroughly revised to reflect ongoing developments in sustainability of plastics. Extrusion processing is constantly progressing, as have the elastomeric materials, fillers, and additives which are available. Throughout the book, the focus is on the engineering aspects of producing and using plastics. The properties of plastics are explained, along with techniques for testing, measuring, enhancing, and analyzing them. Practical introductions to both core topics and new developments make this work equally valuable for newly qualified plastics engineers seeking the practical rules-of-thumb they don't teach you in school and experienced practitioners evaluating new technologies or getting up-to-speed in a new field. Presents an authoritative source of practical advice for engineers, providing guidance from experts that will lead to cost savings and process improvements Ideal introduction for both new engineers and experienced practitioners entering a new field or evaluating a new technology Updated to include the latest technology, including 3D Printing, smart polymers, and thorough coverage of biopolymers and biodegradable plastics
This work covers the history of optical communications, fibres and fiber cables, and compares optical fibres with other transmission media. It also discusses optical fibre materials, reliability and manufacture, illustrates the design, construction and properties of recent cables used for optical fibre, describes fibre splicing and presents automated fibre splicing machines, and more.
The second edition of Dennis Averys 1995 seminal work, Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics provides the flip side to environmentalist cries of spiraling cancer rates, rising global temperatures and decreasing rainforest acreage. Thoroughly updated and re-written with new information and data, Averys controversial book shows how agricultural technology can save the planet for both people and wildlife.
Seldom does a book achieve status as a classic in its first edition, but The Art of Aesthetic Surgery by Foad Nahai has been hailed as a masterpiece since its inception. Reviews have been universally laudatory, and residents and experienced practitioners alike have embraced this work as the ultimate resource on all things aesthetic. Now, this landmark work has been totally revised and updated with over 40 new chapters (many with new authors) and every chapter has been revised to reflect the latest trends, techniques, and information. This three-volume set also includes seven DVDs with 24 operative videos. Comprehensive Coverage 93 chapters in three volumes cover the full range of cosmetic medical treatments and aesthetic operations. Topics include: Hair transplantation and brow lift Eyelid surgery Laser resurfacing and chemical peels Tissue fillers and fat grafting Rhytidectomy and face and neck lift Facial implants Rhinoplasty and ptoplasty Lip rejuvenation Breast augmentation, reduction, and mastoplexy Surgical, noninvasive, and minimally invasive body contouring Liposuction To address the modern physician's need for business acumen as well as surgical skill, three chapters focus on practice management, ranging from practice model options, staff and financial management, marketing and communications, and legal issues. World-Renowned Authors Dr. Foad Nahai is an acknowledged leader in aesthetic surgery. He has personally written a third of the chapters for this three-volume work. His contributors, representing the "who's who" of aesthetic surgery, provide detailed accounts of their techniques for the different operations, as well as the planning process so crucial to producing excellent results. Help with Decision-Making Of particular note are the clinical decision-making chapters authored by Dr. Nahai. This invaluable insight provides readers with a unique overview of the various options for each problem, along with his preferred solutions. Complete with algorithms and case studies, this problem-solving feature offers the expert guidance necessary to sort through options, understand their advantages and limitations, and make the best choice for each patient. Necessary Anatomy Key chapters introducing each major anatomic region or topic area focus on applied anatomy and provide essential information that the surgeon needs to know to execute these surgical maneuvers safely and effectively. Reliable Format This new edition maintains the same features that made the previous edition so popular, including beautiful medical illustrations, large type for readability, and a consistent, comprehensive approach. The semi-atlas format features the applicable images located next to legend text for enhanced clarity.
The second edition of Operative Plastic Surgery is a fully-updated, comprehensive text that discusses the most common plastic surgery procedures in great detail. It covers the classic techniques in plastic surgery, as well as the most recent technical advances, while maintaining a systematic approach to patient care within each chapter. Traversing the entirety of the human body, each chapter addresses assessment of defects, preoperative factors, pathology, trauma, operative indications and procedure, and more. Also covered is the operative room setup, with special consideration given to the operative plan, patient positioning and markings, and technique for each type of surgery. Detailing over 90 specific surgical techniques, this book covers both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. A new section addresses non-invasive techniques such as Botox, injectables, lasers, and skincare. New chapters throughout the book also include ALT flaps, nasal cleft deformities, ZMC fractures, augmentation mastoplexy, body contouring for the massive weight loss patient, and endoscopic carpal tunnel repair. Led by Gregory R.D. Evans, this volume assembles thought leaders in plastic surgery to present operative surgery in a clear, didactic, and comprehensive manner, and lays the groundwork for ideas that we have just scratched the surface of, such as translational research, fat grafting, stem cells, and tissue engineering.